CROCHET queen Jean Westbrook is calling on Macclesfield's close'knit' community to help her break a world record.

The third year art student's attempt to make the world's biggest cardigan was foiled last year when officials classed her entry as a jumper.

But Jean hasn't given up on her dream.

She's calling upon an army of stitchers to reach for their needles and knit thousands of 12in squares to form a giant cardigan bigger than ever before.

Jean, 55, who is studying Creative Arts for Employment at Macclesfield College, hopes to have made the ultimate winter woolie by June 15, when it will be measured by officials from the Guinness World Record books.

She said: "We're hoping to unveil it at the Barnaby Festival and then have it on display at Macclesfield College.

"I'm going to make a chart so children can explore it and find different squares - it'll be like I Spy!"

She added: "I've got all these ideas but it has to be made yet!

"I've been asking around like mad for people to get knitting but at the moment I have no idea how many people are out there - I'm hoping there are hundreds of people knitting away."

Jean, who was a teacher in Macclesfield for 20 years, would love more individuals and community groups to get involved and keep up to date on their progress.

"There are quite a few people involved so far," she explained. "My friend said she would do one and she dropped off ten which is fantastic.

"Glossop is really coming up trumps and has knitted two 7ft square pieces, and they raised money for the Rainbow Trust at the same time, and there is a Brownie group in Henbury getting together with the local church to knit some squares too."

But more knitters are needed if Jean is to beat the world record, which is currently held by the Chinese who knitted a jumper with a 28ft chest.

She added: "People can do it for charity if they want or they can just knit for themselves.

"You can knit any colour and any ply, it doesn't matter how you produce it - It can be crocheted if you like."

To get involved, call Jean on 07717 536817, or email nothing-quite-like-it@live.co.uk and let her know what your planning.

Alternatively, drop it off at Macclesfield College marked thebiggestcardigan.com.